The Effect of Bubbles on Optical Backscatter Sensors

Abstract : Measuring sediment suspension and transport in the surf and swash zones on beaches is a daunting task, not only because of the harsh conditions, but also due to the presence of bubbles. There are typically two methods for addressing sediment transport measurements: acoustic and optic. It is known that acoustic backscatter instruments have particular difficulty in bubbly environments (Vincent et al., 1991) such as near the breakpoint and in the swash zone, but may experience much less artificial signal amplification other regions of the surf zone where little bubble entrainment reaches the bed. More debate in the scientific literature exists as to the effect of bubbles on optical backscatter sensors (OBS s).